A27068:182
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly…
Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholic communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.Whether parish congregations be true Christian churches and the capable consenting incumbents, be truly their pastors, or bishops over their flocks ... : written by Richard Baxter as an explication of some passages in his former writings, especially his Treatise of episcopacy, misunderstood and misapplied by some, and answering the strongest objections of some of them, especially a book called, Mr. Baxters judgment and reasons against communicating with the parish assemblies, as by law required, and another called, A theological dialogue, or, Catholick communion once more defended, upon mens necessitating importunity / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
VIII,▪ In England (as is agreed by most Historians▪) at first one Bishop had but one Church or Temple. (And at Lindisfarne saith Bede, It was so po•• a thing, that it was a house thatched with reeds.) The Pastor of this one Church was to convert as many as he could in all the Country about him. The Heathen Country might be his Diocese, but not his Church. The converted Christians got into several Monasteries, and not into Parish-Churches. These Monasteries were partly for Society in Religious Exercise, and partly for Studies, like Schools to Educate Youth for the Ministry▪ So that long a Diocese was only the Bishops Church with divers Monasteries. At last, Gentlemen for their convenience built and endowed Parish-Churches; the Bishops old single Churches being called the Cathedrals: And finally, by the help of Princes, all the Land was divided into Parishes, subject to the Cathedral-Bishops, to whom Deans and Chapters were added in imitation of the old Bishops College of Presbyters in every single Church.
VIII,▪ In England (as is agreed by most Historians▪) at first one Bishop had but one Church or Temple. (And at Luindisfarne saith Bede, It was so po•• a thing, that it was a house thatcht with reeds.) The Pastor of this one Church was to convert as many as he could in all the Countrey about him. The Heathen Country might be his Diocess, but not his Church. The converted Christians got into several Monasteries, and not into Parish-Churches. These Monasteries were partly for Society in Religious Exercise, and partly for Studies, like Schools to Educate Youth for the Ministry▪ So that long a Diocess was only the Bishops Church with divers Monasteries. At last, Gentlemen for their convenience built and endowed Parish-Churches; the Bishops old single Churches being called the Cathedrals: And finally, by the help of Princes, all the Land was divided into Parishes, subject to the Cathedral-Bishops, to whom Deans and Chapters were added in imitation of the old Bishops Colledg of Presbyters in every single Church.